Have you heard this version of The Game of Thrones music?

https://soundcloud.com/a-thing-from-the-south/game-of-thrones-theme-acoustic-slide-southern-style-cover

https://soundcloud.com/a-thing-from-the-south/game-of-thrones-theme-acoustic-slide-southern-style-cover

Glad to have been at The Glad.

Steepways - The Usual Suspects

Here we are all lined up and looking criminal outside the Gladstone on Saturday, just before we played what is more than likely to be the last time there. The word is the place is being sold and turned into flats, no more sweaty boozy nights filled with country and blues - the world has become a tiny bit of a sadder place. 

The good news is the spirit is carrying on, speaking with Danny (Mr Gladstone) he has plans to keep the flag flying for the Gladstone under the banner "Super Glad" - this will be top live music around London with the same vibe but not the same venue - watch this space - we cant wait to play one of these new nights. 

The gig was great, Franc Cinelli supported in his trio with really tight three part harmonies. It was our first gig with Mike Cotton on drums (far right in picture). Mike is the man; mid twenties, semi pro ice hockey player from Canada, he is a tasty drummer and a funny bloke on top. He is currently living in Guildford and will be touring with rocks legend "Castle" over October. We are super stoked to be playing with Mike and look forward to more gigs with him in the future. 

Steepways playing The Gladstone Saturday 13th August - Free Entry!

Dave Stewart Entertainments - Church Keys Tour - Lake Poets, Fraser Anderson and Steepways - Friday 29th July 2015

On Friday 29th July St Lawrence, Evesham resonated with the sounds of the future.

The concert was organised by Dave Stewart Entertainment & The Churches Conservation Trust (who look after the stunning church and 349 other ones around the country). It was part of nationwide series of concerts in churches called the "Church Keys" tour.

These concerts have seen Chris Difford from Squeeze, Nick Kershaw and even Dave Stewart himself play!

I kicked off the bill on Friday with songs from my new upcoming album with Steepways. It was delightfully strange to strip the rockier songs back and play them just with an acoustic guitar in a holy space, rather than blasting them out with my five piece band in a sweaty London bar!

Next was Fraser Anderson, fresh from playing on the same bill as Kula Shaker, this jet setter had a great guitar style with lots of dynamic interplay - he even used a sponge under his guitar strings at one point to get an unusual soft muted sound.

Completing the night was the talented Marty from The Lake Poets. This man has the voice! Something special about the way he sings that reverberated wonderfully in the dramatic surroundings.

Fraser has lots of interesting gigs coming up including a Spanish double headliner with Pete Doherty, Marty is playing some great festivals including Under the Apple Tree Festival in September and my next gig is with the full band in a sweaty London bar - The Gladstone! Saturday 13th August.
 
For you that don't know the Gladstone has been sold and this will be the last time we play this beautiful place. I first played there in 2006 promoting my debut album 'Don't look up' with Tom Corneill who was promoting his debut 'I asked an Angel'.
I have played there a dozen or so times since and will be genuinely sad to see it close. The place always looks busy when I have been but the landlord has decided to sell, this is very sad for the scene and will be missed by many.

On a lighter note did you know that Dave Stewart co-wrote the Shakespeares Sister hit single "Stay" under the pseudonym "Jean Guiot"?

PS Big Thanks to Tim from Even Lode Productions who did a fantastic job not only with the sound on the night but the lights as you can see.

Thought of the day - "Speed"

Everything is so quick from our broadband to our food to our travel (normally)

We can access so much so quickly that I think it loses it's value, we don't give things the attention they deserve.

SO I made a decision. A consumer, first world decision - I decided to buy a record player over a wireless speaker for my computer. This means I will not be dialling up whatever I think of and give it a quick once over never to repeat - I will instead by thinking about what I buy and then I will give the records the time they deserve. I will not skip tracks, I will slow my heart rate to be perfectly in sync with the records rotation, well maybe not but you get the idea.

My first record to sit against the half dozen I already have - Waylon Jennings - Singer of Sad Songs.

Waylon Jennings - Singer of sad songs

In a week or two I will be going to get another record and to quote a great song I heard " The Band strikes up at 11:01 and the music starts to play"

Take it slow people and take it in.

Video: "Recording Steepways" Day #5

"Recording Steepways" Day #5

(left to right: Charlie Bateson, Bruce Welch {The Shadows}, Blair Chadwick)

Pre order your album here: www.steepways.com

Video: "Homage to Rig Rundown" - Blair's Blues and 'Guitar' News

Blair's Blues and 'Guitar' News - "Homage to Rig Rundown"